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West Indies defeated Bangladesh in a last-over thriller at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday to open their account in the ongoing T20 Wꦉorld Cup 2021.
Chasing a paltry target of 143, Bangladesh had a terrible start as they lost both openers Mohammad Naim (17) and Shakib Al Hasan (9) for 29 runs in 5.4 overs.
Then, Soumya Sarkar (17) and Mushfiqur Rahim (8) formed crucial stands of 31 and 30 runs, respectively, with Liton Das to keep Bangladesh in the game.
After losing Sarkar and Rahim, Das stayed on the crease and put together a vital stand of 40 runs for the fifth wicket. However, a fielding brilliance by Holder at the long-on got rid of Das fo﷽r a well-made 44 runs.
With 13 needed off 6 balls, Andre Russell took the responsibility🐷 to bowl the final over and took Windies home. The right-handed batter only conceded nine runs as the defending cha♔mpions won the contest by three runs.
Earlier, West Indies posted 142/7 on the board in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to crucial knocks by Nicholas Pooran and Roston Chase.
Chase made 39 off 46 at the top when his team was badly struggling after losing Chris Gayle (4), Evin Lewis (6), and Shimron Hetmyer (9) at 32 in 6.4 overs. Then, Pooran changed the momentum with a qui🐓ckfire 22-ball 40 runs with the help of five boundaries, including four sixes.
All-rounder Jason Holder, who was recently added to the squad as a replacement for the injured left-arm seamer Obed McCoy, chipped in with valuable 15 off 5 balls down the order to help West Indies post a respectable total. Skipper Kieron Pollard remained unbeaten on 14 from 18 deliveries.
For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam (2/20) and Mahedi Hasan (2/27) picked up a couple of wickets each. Similarly, Mustafizur Rahman also bagged two wickets, but he was quite expensive. Rahm🅰an ended up conceding 43 runs in his quota of 4 ♐overs.
Smallest margin of win for WI (by runs):
- 1 vs IND Lauderhill 2016
- 3 vs BAN Sharjah 2021 *
- 7 vs PAK Gros Islet 2011
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Cracking win for West Indies, this could reignite their campaign. Lucky to come away with full points despite mistakes galore with bat and in the field. Sadly, end 🔯of the road for Bangladesh after third loss on the trot.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
West Indies win a thriller 🔥 | |
— ICC (@ICC)
What an over, what a player, what a team, what a game: West Indies' title defence still hanging by a thread but that's a remarkable effort on a pitch that couldn't have suited their style of play much less
— Matt Roller (@mroller98)
should be disappointed with that result. I thought they left a little too much for the end. But who woul🔯d have thought the height of the long-on fielder ꦅwould become a turning point!!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
a well fou⛎ꩲght game to and hoping all is well with 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket)
Teams that could not chase under-150 target more than once in a Men's T20 World Cup:-
Bangladesh🇧🇩 in 2016 (v IND, NZ)
Bangladesh🇧🇩 in 2021 (v SCO, WI)— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
Feel West Indies go𝄹nna bring madness after this win.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer)
40 off 22 balls to turn the innings around.
WELL DESERVED POTM award to 🔥👏🏿— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket)
Andre Russell's top final over seals it for West Indies. Scorecard:
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
ANDRE RUSSELL YOU ROCKS.
— The Global Sports (@GlobalSportsHQ)
Whaaaaat a maaaa𓂃tch; 😲😲 I ✃enjoyed it fully😉 last ball thriller 👌 😀 but one thing 🤔how many chances given to batters ?😜 😳 from both teams.
— Atla Sai Tarun Reddy (@sai_atla)
